UN PROCESO TRANSPARENTE

What is the fee cap after a hurricane in Florida?

Florida Statute 626.854 sets the limits. The cap is state law, so it is the same in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Sarasota and every other Florida city. The cap is 10% for claims from an event under a Governor's emergency declaration, made during the year after that declaration, and 20% for other claims.

The statute adds these limits:

• On a reopened or supplemental claim, the fee can only be based on new payments made after the contract, and the cap is 20%.

• A public adjuster cannot take a fee on money the insurer paid, or agreed in writing to pay, before you signed the contract.

• A much lower cap applies when the insurer pays, or agrees in writing to pay, the policy limit within 14 days after the loss or 10 days after the contract, whichever is later.

What must a Florida public adjuster contract say?

Florida law sets what the contract must contain. Check for these before you sign:

• The title "Public Adjuster Contract", with the contract printed in at least 12 point type.

• The fee percentage, in bold 18 point type, just before your signature line.

• The type of claim the contract covers, as the statute labels it.

• The public adjuster's full name and license number, plus the firm's name and license number.

• Your initials on each page you do not sign.

• A fraud warning in bold 18 point type before your signature, and the cancellation terms.

Before you sign the contract, the public adjuster must give you a separate disclosure form from the Florida Department of Financial Services to sign. You should get an unaltered copy of the signed contract at the time you sign it.

Can I cancel a public adjuster contract in Florida?

You can cancel for any reason, without penalty, within 10 days after you sign. If the contract is for a loss from an event under a Governor's emergency declaration, you have 30 days after the date of loss or 10 days after you sign, whichever is longer.

Example only. Hurricane Isaias made landfall on October 9, 2026. If a homeowner signed on October 20, the 30 day window from the date of loss would run to November 8, 2026, which is longer than 10 days from signing.

The cancellation must be in writing. Send it by certified mail with a return receipt, or any mail service with proof of mailing, to the address in the contract.

You can also cancel without penalty if the public adjuster does not give you a written, itemized estimate within 60 days of signing, unless the delay was beyond the adjuster's control.

What other costs can show up in a contract?

Some claims need outside work, such as an engineer or a water mitigation company. Florida law says you only pay for that kind of service if you agree to it in a separate written agreement made after you sign the public adjuster contract.

A fee on additional living expenses, such as hotel costs while your home is repaired, needs its own separate agreement too. The fee rate cannot go up just because the claim goes to court.

Who can I ask about a public adjuster's fee?

Ask the public adjuster to explain the fee and any other costs in writing before you sign. The Florida Department of Financial Services insurance helpline is 1-877-693-5236.

More on Isaias claims: Hurricane Isaias insurance claims in Florida. How a public adjuster differs from your insurer's adjuster. How to check a public adjuster before you hire.

Source: Florida Statutes 626.854 and 626.8796.

Talk to a licensed public adjuster

We will go through the contract and the fee with you before anything is signed.